Encoding knowledge graph entries with searchable geotemporal values for evaluating transitive geotemporal proximity of entity mentions

ABSTRACT

A controller, responsive to detecting geospatial and temporal information associated with a mention of an entity in a document, for converting the geospatial information into a specified geospatial format and the temporal information into a specified temporal format. The controller for computing prefix-based geospatial values for the converted geospatial information and prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporal information. The controller for encoding an entry in a knowledge graph for the mention of the entity from the document with the prefix-based geospatial values and the prefix-based temporal values, wherein each digit of the prefix-based geospatial values and the prefix-based temporal values in the knowledge graph that matches another one or more prefix-based geospatial values and another one or more prefix-based temporal values in another entry for another entity mention in the knowledge graph reflects a degree of granularity of geotemporal proximity of the entity and the another entity.

This invention was made with United States Government support undercontract number 2013-12101100008. The Government has certain rights inthis invention.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

This invention relates in general to computing systems and moreparticularly to encoding knowledge graph entries with searchablegeotemporal values for evaluating transitive geotemporal proximity ofentity mentions.

2. Description of the Related Art

A knowledge graph represents a collection of data extracted from one ormore sources about real world entities.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method is directed to, responsive to detectinggeospatial information and temporal information associated with amention of an entity in a document, converting, by a computer system,the geospatial information into a specified geospatial format and thetemporal information into a specified temporal format. The method isdirected to computing, by the computer system, one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values for the converted geospatial information and one ormore prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporalinformation. The method is directed to encoding, by the computer system,an entry in a knowledge graph for the mention of the entity from thedocument with the one or more prefix-based geospatial values and the oneor more prefix-based temporal values, wherein each digit of the one ormore prefix-based geospatial values and the one or more prefix-basedtemporal values in the knowledge graph that matches another one or moreprefix-based geospatial values and another one or more prefix-basedtemporal values in another entry for another entity mention in theknowledge graph reflects a degree of granularity of geotemporalproximity of the entity and the another entity.

In another embodiment, a computer system comprises one or moreprocessors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or morecomputer-readable storage devices, and program instructions, stored onat least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by atleast one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one ormore memories. The stored program instructions comprise programinstructions, responsive to detecting geospatial information andtemporal information associated with a mention of an entity in adocument, to convert the geospatial information into a specifiedgeospatial format and the temporal information into a specified temporalformat. The stored program instructions comprise program instructions tocompute one or more prefix-based geospatial values for the convertedgeospatial information and one or more prefix-based temporal values forthe converted temporal information. The stored program instructionscomprise program instructions to encode an entry in a knowledge graphfor the mention of the entity from the document with the one or moreprefix-based geospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporalvalues, wherein each digit of the one or more prefix-based geospatialvalues and the one or more prefix-based temporal values in the knowledgegraph that matches another one or more prefix-based geospatial valuesand another one or more prefix-based temporal values in another entryfor another entity mention in the knowledge graph reflects a degree ofgranularity of geotemporal proximity of the entity and the anotherentity.

In another embodiment, a computer program product comprises a computerreadable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith,wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signalper se. The program instructions executable by a computer to cause thecomputer to, responsive to detecting geospatial information and temporalinformation associated with a mention of an entity in a document,convert, by a computer, the geospatial information into a specifiedgeospatial format and the temporal information into a specified temporalformat. The program instructions executable by a computer to cause thecomputer to compute, by the computer, one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values for the converted geospatial information and one ormore prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporalinformation. The program instructions executable by a computer to causethe computer to encode, by the computer, an entry in a knowledge graphfor the mention of the entity from the document with the one or moreprefix-based geospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporalvalues, wherein each digit of the one or more prefix-based geospatialvalues and the one or more prefix-based temporal values in the knowledgegraph that matches another one or more prefix-based geospatial valuesand another one or more prefix-based temporal values in another entryfor another entity mention in the knowledge graph reflects a degree ofgranularity of geotemporal proximity of the entity and the anotherentity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of one or more embodiments ofthe invention are set forth in the appended claims. The one or moreembodiments of the invention itself however, will best be understood byreference to the following detailed description of an illustrativeembodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating of one example of a geotemporalsearch system for supporting geotemporal proximity-based entity searchesthrough a knowledge graph;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating examples distinguishing betweenexplicit and proximity-based geotemporal searches supported by aknowledge graph search controller in a knowledge graph with geotemporalencoding.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a geotemporalcontroller for supporting geotemporal proximity-based entity searches ina knowledge graph;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one example of components of ageotemporal tag extractor for extracting geotemporal data associatedwith entity mentions in documents, for entry in a knowledge graph;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating one example of components of anencoding controller for generating prefix-based geotemporal encodingvalues from entity mentions in documents for entry in a knowledge graph;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating one example of the geotemporaldata extracted in associated with a location relationship to entitymention and encoded in a knowledge graph;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating one example of parametersreceived by and results produced by a geotemporal controller forsupporting geotemporal proximity-based entity searches in a knowledgegraph;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of entries collectedfrom a knowledge graph with geotemporal encoding for a find proximityquery;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one example of components of afind proximate entity controller identifying entity mentions in aknowledge graph within a threshold proximity to one or more queriedentities in a find proximate entity query;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one example of components of afind proximity controller identifying the granularity of geospatial andtemporal proximity identified in entity mentions for multiple entitiesidentified in a find proximity query;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of one example of a computer system in whichone embodiment of the invention may be implemented;

FIG. 12 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for encoding entity mentions in a knowledge graph withgeotemporal information in the mentions in a format for supportingtransitive proximity-based entity searching through the knowledge graph;

FIG. 13 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for identifying and encoding geotemporal dataassociated with entity mentions as prefix-based geotemporal values in aknowledge graph for supporting proximity-based entity searching throughthe knowledge graph;

FIG. 14 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for performing transitive proximity-based entitysearching to find mentions of other entities within a thresholdproximity of the search entity through the knowledge graph;

FIG. 15 illustrates a high level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for performing transitive proximity-based entitysearching to find mentions of two or more searched entities to identifya degree of granularity of closest geotemporal proximity of the searchedentities through the knowledge graph; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for generating a map projection for the results of afind proximity search for illustrating the closest geotemporal proximityof the searched entities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding ofthe present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled inthe art that the present invention may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devicesare shown in block diagram form to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresent invention.

In addition, in the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous systems are described. It is important to note, and it will beapparent to one skilled in the art, that the present invention mayexecute in a variety of systems, including a variety of computer systemsand electronic devices operating any number of different types ofoperating systems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one example of a geotemporalsearch system for supporting geotemporal proximity-based entity searchesthrough a knowledge graph.

In one embodiment of the invention, a knowledge graph search controller110 manages generation of and updates to a knowledge graph 114. In oneexample, knowledge graph 114 represents a collection of data collectedin data records about one or more entities collected from one or moredata sources.

In one example, to generate and update knowledge graph 114, knowledgegraph search controller 110 searches one or more data sources,collectively referred to as a corpus 118, for mentions of one or moreentities. In one example, knowledge graph search controller 110 extractsdata from corpus 118, in association with identified mentions of the oneor more entities and relationships of the entities, and adds the entitymentions and relationships and extracted data to knowledge graph 114. Inone example, knowledge graph search controller 110 adds the entitymentions and relationships and extracted data to knowledge graph 114 ina data record of a tuple.

In one example, an entity represents a thing that exists eitherphysically or logically. For example, an entity may represent one ormore of, but not limited to, a real-world person, business,organization, physical object, place, event, thing, or concept. Inaddition, in one example, a relationship represents how entities arerelated to one another. For example, a relationship may represent a verbthat shows how entities are linked together, such as, but not limited to“located in” or “met”.

In one example, corpus 118 includes one or more documents, in one ormore formats, types, styles, and languages, accessed from one or moresources. For example, corpus 118 includes online sources such as, butnot limited to, social media entries, data generated by sensors andother devices connected in the Internet of Things (IoT) and onlineencyclopedias, such as, but not limited to, online factbooks, Wikidata,and Wikipedia.

In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110 manages searches of knowledge graph 114. In one example,to manage searches of knowledge graph 114, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110 receives search queries, such as knowledge graph query112 from one or more requestors, such as requestor 120, requestinginformation about one or more entities in knowledge graph 114. Inresponse to receiving knowledge graph query 112, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110 searches knowledge graph 114 for information related tothe one or more entities specified in knowledge graph query 122,determines results of the search of knowledge graph 114, and returns theresults of the search as query results 126 to requestor 120.

For example, requestor 120 may enter an entity name and requestinformation about the entity, submitted as knowledge graph query 122.Knowledge graph search controller 110 searches knowledge graph 114 forentries including mentions of the entity in knowledge graph query 122and returns data collected from entity mentions retrieved from knowledgegraph 114 in query requests 126. For example, one tuple entry for amention of an entity may indicate that the searched entity visited aparticular location, such as a particular store name, or may indicatethe searched entity met another entity at the particular location, suchas a same store name, where each tuple is identified and returned torequestor 120.

In another example of a knowledge graph query, requestor 120 may entertwo entity names and request information about what relationships thetwo entities have in common, submitted as knowledge graph query 122.Knowledge graph search controller 110 searches knowledge graph 114 fortuple entries including each of the entities in knowledge graph query122 and may determine, for example, which tuple entries for bothentities have a relationship of “located in” and a same location, suchas a same city. Knowledge graph search controller 110 returns the datacollected about the pair of entities of the common “located in” locationfrom knowledge graph 114 in query results 126.

In the example, while the data pointed to by an entry in knowledge graph114 may include geospatial elements that indicate an entity's locationrecorded at a particular time, some entities may be transitive inlocation over time and some entities may be fixed in location over time.It would be advantageous for knowledge graph search controller 110 toalso determine, from knowledge graph 114, whether one entity overlapsboth in time and location with another entity based on searching entitymentions in knowledge graph 114. In particular, it would be advantageousfor knowledge graph search controller to determine, from knowledge graph114, whether one entity overlaps within a threshold proximity withanother entity based on searching entity mentions in knowledge graph114, when the temporal and geospatial elements recorded in one entitymention do not explicitly match with the temporal and geospatialelements recorded in another entity mention, but are proximate to oneanother in time and space.

According to an advantage of the present invention, knowledge graphsearch controller 110 implements a geotemporal controller 112 forsupporting and managing geotemporal proximity-based searches throughknowledge graph 114. In one example, geotemporal refers to both atemporal element and a geospatial element. In one example, an entity mayrefer to a person, thing, or other element that is not fixed in positionand may be at different places at different times.

In the example, the data pointed to by an entry in knowledge graph 114may include temporal and geospatial elements recorded in geotemporalencoding 116 for different entity locations at different times.According to an advantage of the invention, geotemporal controller 112encodes entity and relationship mentions in knowledge graph 114 withgeotemporal encoding 116, where geotemporal encoding 116 includeprefix-based temporal values and prefix-based geospatial values inassociation with each entity and relationship. The prefix-based valuesassociated with entity mentions, when compared, indicate degrees ofproximity of the entity mentions based on the number of digits of theprefixes shared between the entity mentions. By encoding entity andrelationship mentions in knowledge graph 114 with prefix-basedgeotemporal encoding 116, the temporal and geospatial proximity ofentity mentions is stored more efficiently by storing data consolidatedinto fixed size hash values and is stored more effectively forsupporting searches because the data is pre-formatted into a prefix thatcan be quickly compared bit by bit with other prefixes to evaluateproximity.

According to an advantage of the present invention, a requestor 120 isenabled to specify knowledge graph query 122 with one or more types ofgeotemporal queries 124. For example, requestor 120 may specifygeotemporal query 124 by identifying two or more entities to request agranularity of geotemporal proximity indication of the two or moreentities or by identifying one or more entities and a thresholdproximity to request identification of other entity mentions within thethreshold proximity of the queried entity, as geotemporalproximity-based searches.

According to an advantage of the present invention, in response to ageotemporal query 124 identifying two or more entities, geotemporalcontroller 112 evaluates, in geotemporal encoding 116 of entity mentionsmatching the queried entities, what level of granularity in geotemporalproximity is needed to identify the two or more queried entities asoverlapping. According to another advantage of the present invention, inresponse to geotemporal query 124 identifying one or more entities and athreshold proximity, geotemporal controller 112 evaluates, ingeotemporal encoding 116 of entity mentions matching the queried entity,other entity mentions with geotemporal encoding within the thresholdproximity to the queried entity. In the example, geotemporal controller112 supports identifying overlapping geotemporal proximity of entitymentions based on explicit text matching and transitive, degree-basedmatching that is not explicitly identified in matching text, but at aparticular granularity there is overlapping geotemporal proximitybetween entity mentions.

In one example, according to an advantage, geotemporal controller 112searches knowledge graph 114 for geotemporal query 124, extracts searchresults from knowledge graph 114 including geotemporal proximityinformation for entity mentions and granularities of geotemporalproximities identified from geotemporal encoding 116, and returns thesearch results in query results 126 specified as geotemporal results128.

In one embodiment of the invention, knowledge graph 114 implements oneor more underlying models for describing data within a database,specified to support storage of geotemporal encoding 116. For example,knowledge graph 114 may implement an entity-relationship (ER) model fordescribing interrelated things of interest, where the model is composedof entity types that classify the things of interest and specifiesrelationships that can exist between instances of the entity types, andspecified to support storage of geotemporal encoding 116. In anotherexample, knowledge graph 114 may implement one or more additional oralternate models including, but not limited to, an RDF data model and aclass diagram, specified to support storage of geotemporal encoding 116.

FIG. 2 a block diagram of examples distinguishing between explicit andproximity-based geotemporal searches supported by a knowledge graphsearch controller in a knowledge graph with geotemporal encoding.

In one example, a user may submit a search query identifying two or moreentities in knowledge graph query 122, such as a knowledge graph queryof “<entity[A], entity[B]>”. In one example, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110, in response to receiving a knowledge graph queryidentifying multiple entities, may search knowledge graph 114 formentions of each of the entities and also evaluate the relationshipsindicated by the mentions of each of the entities. In one example, therelationships indicated by mentions of the entities may includeexplicitly matching geotemporal data, such as indications of aparticular time and place that both entities are named as being locatedat. In another example, the relationships indicated by mentions ofentities may include geotemporal data, but the geotemporal data may notexplicitly match exactly, however, according to an advantage of theinvention, geotemporal controller 112 evaluates geotemporal encoding 116to assess transitive geotemporal proximity of entities to indicatelocation relationships of two or more entities.

In a first example, as illustrated at reference numeral 202, knowledgegraph search controller 110 identifies a geotemporal relationshipbetween search entities from explicit mentions of a temporal andgeospatial relationship in a single document in knowledge graph 114. Forexample, as illustrated at reference numeral 202, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110 reads text “entity[A] met entity[B] in location[X] onday[Y]” 212 from a document A (DOC A) 210 and extracts a relationship of“met(entity[A], entity[B])” 214, with a pointer to DOC A 210. Knowledgegraph search controller 110 adds the extracted relationship of“met(entity[A], entity[B])” 214 to knowledge graph 114. Subsequently, inresponse to a query specifying two or more entities, such the query of“<entity[A], entity[B]>” illustrated at reference numeral 200, knowledgegraph search controller 110 searches knowledge graph 114 and identifiesthe direct relationship of “met” of “entity[A]-entity[B]” 216 andreturns the result of “met” pointing to DOC A 210 in query results 126.In the example, according to an advantage of the invention, thegeotemporal information of “location[X]” and “day[Y]” may also beextracted from DOC A 210, encoded in the entity mention as geotemporalencoding, and returned in the query results as geotemporal resultsindicating a geotemporal proximity granularity based on an explicitmatching time and space of mentions of both entities in a singledocument.

In a second example, as illustrated at reference numeral 204, knowledgegraph search controller 110 identifies geotemporal relationships betweensearch entities from entity mentions with the same explicit geotemporalelements in different documents. For example, as illustrated atreference numeral 204, knowledge graph search controller 110 reads“entity[A] visited location[X] on day[Y]” 222 from document B (DOC B)220 and extracts a relationship of “located in (entity[A], location[X])”224, pointing to DOC B 220. In addition, as illustrated at referencenumeral 204, knowledge graph search controller 110 reads “entity[B]visited location[X] on day[Y]” 230 from document C (DOC C) 228 andextracts a relationship of “located in (entity[B], location[X])” 232,pointing to DOC C 228. Knowledge graph search controller 110 adds theextracted relationships of “located in (entity[A], location[X])” 224 and“located in (entity[B], location[X])” 232 to knowledge graph 114.Subsequently, in response to a query of knowledge graph 114 with a pairof entities, such as “<entity[A], entity[B]>” 200 in knowledge graphquery 122, knowledge graph search controller 110 searches knowledgegraph 114 and identifies an indirect relationship of“entity[A]-location[X]-entity[B]” 226 and returns the result of “locatedin” pointing to DOC B 220 and DOC C 228 in query results 126. In theexample, according to an advantage of the invention, both “location[X]”and “day[Y]” data may also be encoded in knowledge graph 114 throughgeotemporal encoding, and “day[Y]” may also be returned in the queryresults as geotemporal results indicating a granularity of proximitybased on an explicitly matching time and space of mentions of bothentities in different documents.

In a third example, according to an advantage of the invention, asillustrated at reference numeral 206, geotemporal controller 112supports knowledge graph search controller 110 in identifying thegranularity of proximity of transitive relational mentions betweenentities in different documents by evaluating geotemporal encoding 116.For example, as illustrated at reference numeral 206, knowledge graphsearch controller 110 reads “entity[A] visited location[X] on day[Y]”242 from document B (DOC B) 240 and geotemporal controller 112 encodesthe entity mention with prefix-based geotemporal values with arelationship of “located in (entity[A], location[X], day[Y])” 244,pointing to DOC B 240. In addition, as illustrated at reference numeral206, knowledge graph search controller 110 reads “entity[B] worked atlocation[Z] on day[Y]” 242 from document D (DOC D) 247 and geotemporalcontroller 112 encodes the entity mention with prefix-based geotemporalvalues with a relationship of “located in (entity[B], location[Z],day[Y])” 249, pointing to DOC D 248. Knowledge graph search controller110 adds the extracted relationships of “located in (entity[A],location[X], day[Y])” 244 and “located in (entity[B], location[Z],day[Y])” 249 to knowledge graph 114 with geotemporal encoding 116.

Subsequently, in response to the query of “<entity[A], entity[B]>”illustrated at reference numeral 200, geotemporal controller 112searches the mentions of “entity[A]” and “entity[B]” identified byknowledge graph search controller 110 from knowledge graph 114 forgeotemporal tags, identifies the geotemporal tags of “located in(entity[A], location[X], day[Y])” 244 and “located in (entity[B],location[Z], day[Y])” 249 that share a same temporal element anddetermines what granularity of proximity is needed for location [X] andlocation [Z] to have overlapped. Knowledge graph search controller 110returns a transitive relationship of “entity[A]-location[X]/[Z]proximity-day[Y]-entity[B]” 246 identifying the granularity ofgeospatial proximity between location [X] and location [Z] and returnsthe result of “located in” pointing to DOC B 240 and DOC D 248 in queryresults 126. In another example, if the time entry of “day[Y]” hasdifferences in each of the entity mentions, geotemporal controller 112also determines a granularity of temporal proximity between thedifferent temporal elements.

In a fourth example, according to an advantage of the present invention,as illustrated at reference numeral 206, geotemporal controller 112supports knowledge graph search controller 110 in identifying entitieswith transitive relational mentions within a threshold proximity byevaluating geotemporal encoding 116. In one example, in response toknowledge graph query 122 including geotemporal query elements, such as“<entity[A], [P] miles, [R] hours>” as illustrated at reference numeral250, knowledge graph search controller 110 manages a search for otherentities in mentions including geotemporal encoding 116 indicating thegranularity of proximity of mentions are within the threshold proximityspecified in the query, illustrated by threshold proximity entitymentions 252. For example, as illustrated in the query of “<entity[A],[P] miles, [R] hours>”, the threshold proximities are set to ageospatial threshold of “P” miles and a temporal threshold of “R” hours.In the example, knowledge graph search controller 110 reads “entity[A]visited location[X] on day[Y, TIME M]” 254 from document E (DOC E) 270and geotemporal controller 112 extracts both a temporal tag andgeospatial tag of a relationship of “located in (entity[A], location[X],day[Y, TIME M])” 256, pointing to DOC E 270. In addition, in theexample, knowledge graph search controller 110 reads “entity[B] workedat location[Z] on day[Y, TIME N]” 258 from document F (DOC F) 272 andgeotemporal controller 112 extracts both a temporal tag and geospatialtag of a relationship of “located in (entity[A], location[Z], day[Y,TIME N])” 260, pointing to DOC F 272. Knowledge graph search controller110 adds the extracted relationships of “located in (entity[A],location[X], day[Y, TIME M])” 256 and “located in (entity[B],location[Z], day[Y, TIME N])” 260 to knowledge graph 114, where recordswith both a temporal tag and a geospatial tag are identified throughgeotemporal encoding 116.

Subsequently, in response to the query of “<entity[A], [P] miles, [R]hours>” illustrated at reference numeral 250, geotemporal controller 112searches the mentions of “entity[A]”, “entity[B]”, and other entitiesidentified by knowledge graph search controller 110 from knowledge graph114 for geotemporal encoding. Geotemporal controller 112 identifies thegeotemporal encoding within “located in (entity[A], location[X], day[Y,TIME M])” 256 and “located in (entity[B], location[Z], day[Y, TIME N])”260, determines whether the time granularity difference between “TIME[M]” and “TIME [N]” meets the threshold proximity of “[R] hours”, and ifso, also determines whether the distance granularity difference between“location [X]” and “location [Z]” meets the threshold proximity of “[P]miles”. Knowledge graph search controller 110 returns a transitiverelationship of “entity[A]-location[X]/[Y] proximity-day[Y]-entity[B]”246 if the temporal mentions meet the temporal threshold and thegeospatial mentions meet the geospatial threshold, returning the mentionof “entity [B]” pointed to in DOC F 272 in query results 126. Byidentifying and returning indications of entity mentions that are withina threshold proximity of a searched entity, knowledge graph searchcontroller 110 provides information about transitive, proximity-basedgeotemporal relationships of entities, in addition to providinginformation about explicit geotemporal relationships of entities.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one example of a geotemporal controller forsupporting geotemporal proximity-based entity searches in a knowledgegraph.

In one example, geotemporal controller 112 includes a geotemporal tagextractor 310. As knowledge graph search controller 110 finds entitymentions within corpus 118, geotemporal tag extractor 310 identifiestemporal and geospatial elements associated with the entity mentionswithin corpus 118 to support knowledge graphic search controller 110 ingenerating knowledge graph 114 with prefix-based geotemporal valuesidentified with entity mentions in geotemporal encoding 116.

For example, geotemporal tag extractor 310 identifies temporal elementssuch as, but not limited to, a numerical time, a date, a day of theweek, a season, a time period, an event, and other indicators of aparticular point in time or range of times. For example, geotemporal tagextractor 310 identifies geospatial elements such as, but not limitedto, a geographic area, a store name, a business name, a street name,location coordinates, an event name, and other indicators of aparticular location or a location scope.

In one example, geotemporal controller 112 includes an encodingcontroller 312 for encoding all mentions of each entity in knowledgegraph 114 with geotemporal encoding 116 by considering the temporallocality of a mention as identified by geotemporal tag extractor 310.Next, encoding controller 312 calculates a temporal hash or otherprefix-based temporal encoding of the mention and calculates a secondprefix-based temporal offset hash to address time edges by applying anoffset mask to the temporal hash, such that proximate times that do notshare a prefix in the temporal hash may share a prefix in the temporaloffset hash. Encoding controller 312 adds the entity mention withgeotemporal encoding 116 including the temporal hash and temporal offsethash.

In addition, encoding controller 312 encodes all mentions of each entityin knowledge graph with geotemporal encoding by considering thegeospatial locality of the mention as identified by geotemporal tagextractor 310. Next, encoding controller 312 calculates a geospatialhash value, such as a geohash, or other prefix-based geospatial encodingof the mention and calculates a second prefix-based geospatial offsethash value to address location edges by rotating longitudinal andlatitudinal coordinates of the geospatial hash value by 90 degrees tocapture locations around an alternate edge of a bounded area. Encodingcontroller 312 adds the entity mention, with geotemporal encoding 116including the geospatial hash and geospatial offset hash, to knowledgegraph 114.

In the example, each hash value represents a mapping of temporal orgeospatial data into a fixed size, with a fixed length prefix of thehash stored as the hash value. When a hash function is applied totemporal or geospatial data, the prefixes of hashes of events that aresimilar in time share similar prefix digits and events that are similarin space share similar prefix digits. In the example, to accommodate forprefix edge locations that may not overlap, the offset mask is appliedto create the temporal offset hash and the rotation value is applied tocreate the geospatial hash provide offset prefixes. The number of digitsshared between prefixes provides an indicator of the degree ofgranularity of temporal or geospatial proximity.

In one example, geotemporal controller 112 includes a find proximateentities controller 316. In one example, find proximate entitiescontroller 316 manages geotemporal query 124 including a “find proximateentities” type query that identifies one or more entities and ageospatial and temporal threshold proximity.

In the example, find proximate entities controller 316 first performs amapping. In one example, the mapping includes mapping the geospatial andtemporal threshold proximities identified in the query fromgranularity-based thresholds to a geospatial hash prefix length and atemporal hash prefix length or from time and value-based thresholds to ageospatial hash prefix and a temporal hash prefix.

Next, find proximate entities controller 316 radix sorts all mentions ofthe queried entities and non-queried entities on each of the mentiontemporal hashes, by most significant digit. For bins that share atemporal hash prefix matching the threshold prefix or hash prefix oflength matching the threshold prefix length and include a queriedentity, find proximate entities controller 316 identifies all entitymentions in these bins that are different from the query entities as afirst selection of entity mentions. Next, find proximate entitiescontroller 316 radix sorts all mentions of the queried entities and thefirst selection of entity mentions on each of the mention geospatialhashes, by most significant digit. For bins that share a geospatial hashprefix matching the threshold prefix or hash prefix of length matchingthe threshold prefix length and include a queried entity, find proximateentities controller 316 identifies all entity mentions in these binsthat are different from the query entities as a second selection ofentity mentions. Find proximate entities controller 316 returns thesecond selection of entity mentions to knowledge graph search controller110 for specifying geotemporal results 128 of query results 126.

In one example, geotemporal controller 112 includes a find proximityquery controller 318. In one example, find proximity controller 318manages geotemporal query 124 including a “find proximity” queryidentifying two or more entities. Find proximity controller 318 radixsorts all mentions of the queried entities on each of the mentiontemporal hashes, by most significant digit. For bins with longest prefixthat contain a mention for each of the queried entities, find proximitycontroller 318 identifies the entity mentions as temporal closestmentions and identifies the length of the prefix of the temporal closestmentions as the temporal proximity. Next, find proximity controller 318radix sorts all mentions of the closest mentions on each of the mentiongeospatial hashes, by most significant digit. For bins with a longestprefix that contain a mention for each of the queried entities, findproximity controller 318 identifies these entity mentions as ageospatial closest mentions and identifies the length of the prefix ofthe geospatial closest mentions as the geospatial proximity. Findproximity controller 318 may map the temporal proximity to a smallesttemporal measure, such as a year, week or day, and returns the mappedtemporal proximity. Next, find proximity controller 318 may map thegeospatial proximity to a shortest geospatial measure, such as mile orfoot, and returns the mapped geospatial proximity for specifyinggeotemporal results 128 of query requests 126. If the geospatial prefixof the geospatial closest mentions maps to a named geographic entity,such as a city, country, or location identified in a record of knowledgegraph 114 or another mapping source, then find proximity controller 318may also identify and return the named geographic entity for specifyinggeotemporal results 128 of query results 126.

In one example, find proximity controller 318 may generate data pointsfor a mapped representation the area described by the geospatial prefixof the geospatial closest mentions and the time described by thetemporal prefix of the temporal closest mentions on a map projection anda timeline. In one example, to generate the map projection and timeline,find proximity controller 318 determines a mapping location byidentifying the latitude and longitude coordinates identified by thegeospatial prefix by determining a bounding box of the area for theselected geospatial prefix and then determining the coordinates mappedto in the bounding box for the selected geospatial prefix. If thegeospatial prefix is the offset value, then find proximity controller318 also reverses the latitudinal and longitudinal rotations of thecoordinates for the geospatial offset hash value identified in thebounding box.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of one example of components of ageotemporal tag extractor for extracting geotemporal data associatedwith entity mentions in documents, for entry in a knowledge graph.

In the example, geotemporal tag extractor 310 includes a temporalsearcher 402 for searching the contents of a document with an entitymention for one or more types of temporal data associated with alocation relationship, such as trained temporal reference types 406. Insearching the contents of the document with an entity mention for one ormore types of temporal data, temporal searcher 402 may also searchmetadata of the document, such as a timestamp indicating when a documentwas created or accessed, for indications of temporal data associatedwith an entity mention. Trained temporal reference types 406 mayinclude, but are not limited to, numerical time references, datereferences, calendar day references, seasonal references, time periodreferences, event references, and other references to indicators of aparticular point in time or range of times. In one example, temporalsearcher 402 may implement one or more types of trained classifiers thatare trained to classify the temporal content of text based on trainedtemporal reference types 406. In another example, temporal searcher 402may extract potential temporal values by parsing data using a temporallibrary and may extract start and end times by daily, weekly, monthly,quarterly, and yearly identifiers, for example.

In the example, geotemporal tag extractor 310 also includes a temporalconverter 404 for converting temporal data identified by temporalsearcher 402 to meet one or more temporal format definitions in temporalformat definition 408. For example, temporal format definition 408 mayspecify a UTC based time format. In another example, temporal formatdefinition 408 may specify a time format for categorizing temporal datain association with a datetime and timespan or year/month/time. In theexample, temporal converter 404 may apply one or more conversionfunctions 410 to convert the one or more temporal reference types intothe one or more temporal format definitions for encoding as an extractedtemporal tag.

In the example, geotemporal tag extractor 310 includes a geospatialsearcher 422 for searching the contents of a document with an entitymention for one or more types of geospatial data, such as trainedgeospatial reference types 426. Trained geospatial reference types 426may include, but are not limited to, geographic or space references suchas, but not limited to, geographic area references, store namereferences, business name references, street name references, locationcoordinate references, event name references, and other references toindicators of a particular location or a location area.

In one example, geospatial searcher 422 may implement one or more typesof trained classifiers that are trained to classify the geospatialcontent of text based on trained geospatial reference types 426. Forexample, geospatial searcher 422 may implement classifiers trained withmillions of geographic names of countries, cities, regions, and cities,which assigns unique geographic identifiers to each identifiedgeographic name. In another example, geospatial searcher 422 mayimplement classifiers trained with street level information, whichassigns unique geographic identifiers to each identified address or way.In another example, geospatial searcher 422 may implement classifierstrained with postal codes and country codes, which assigns uniquegeographic identifiers to each identified postal code or country code.In one example, geospatial searcher 402 may implement classifierstrained with temporal event and historical period information, whichassigns unique geographic identifiers to events and historical periodsindicators.

In the example, geotemporal tag extractor 310 also includes a geospatialconverter 424 for converting geospatial data identified by geospatialsearcher 422 to meet one or more geospatial format definitions ingeospatial format definition 428. For example, geospatial formatdefinition 428 may specify a latitude and longitude or address-basedformat. In the example, geospatial converter 424 may apply one or moreconversion functions 420 to convert the one or more geospatial referencetypes into the one or more geospatial format definitions for encoding asan extracted geospatial tag.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of one example of components of anencoding controller for generating prefix-based geotemporal encodingvalues from entity mentions in documents for entry in a knowledge graph.

In one example, encoding controller 312 includes a temporal hashcalculator 510 for calculating a prefix-based temporal hash value fromthe temporal tag extracted by geotemporal tag extractor 310. In oneexample, temporal hash calculator 510 may apply one or more types offull-length hash functions to the temporal tag and then compute the hashprefix of the most significant selection of a fixed size, such as 4-32bytes as the prefix-based temporal hash value. In the example, each bitof the hash prefix of the prefix-based temporal hash value, startingfrom most significant bit, when compared with the same bit of other hashprefixes, indicates a degree of granularity of temporal proximity of theprefix-based temporal hash value to other prefix-based temporal hashvalues, as an indicator of temporal proximity of entity mentionsincluding the compared prefix-based temporal hash values.

In addition, in one example, encoding controller 312 includes a temporaloffset hash calculator 514 for applying a mask value 512 to theprefix-based temporal hash value to calculate a temporal offset hashvalue, in order to accommodate for temporal edges. In one example, eachbit of the hash prefix of the prefix-based temporal offset hash valuefrom most significant bit, when compared with the same bit of otheroffset hash values, indicates a degree of temporal proximity of theprefix-based temporal offset hash value to other prefix-based temporaloffset hash values, as an indicator temporal proximity of entitymentions including the compared prefix-based temporal hash values. Forexample, a temporal hash prefix length match of 1 may reflect aproximity of within 100 hours, a temporal hash prefix length match of 2may reflect a proximity of within 10 hours, a temporal hash prefixlength match of 3 may reflect a proximity of within 1 hour, and atemporal hash prefix length match of 4 may reflect a proximity of within1 minute.

In one example, in general, mask value 512 is set to a value to increaseor decrease each significant digit of a temporal hash value by half ofthe digit's potential value, so two proximate terms that span time edgeswill be centralized in the range. For example, two events separated by aday may not share a prefix when hashed into temporal hash values, suchas the dates of 1999 Dec. 31 and 2000 Jan. 1, which are separated by aday, but may not share a hash prefix because the hashed values of thedifferent year and month values would not normalize to matching hashprefixes. By applying mask value 512 with a half interval mask value toincrease each digit of the hash by half of its potential value, a newset of offset hashes may be created which would effectively reflect thedates of 2000 June 15 and 2000 June 16 with matching hash prefixesindicating a proximity of 1 day. In another example, if the temporalhash value represents a seconds-since-epoch temporal representation,then mask value 512 may apply a decimal offset of “55555555555” to applya half interval mask to increase each digit of the hash by half of itspotential value.

In the example, encoding controller 312 includes a geospatial hashcalculator 520 for calculating a prefix-based geospatial hash value fromthe geospatial tag extracted by geotemporal tag extractor 310. In oneexample, geospatial hash calculator 520 may calculate a prefix-basedgeospatial hash value based on a geocoding system that encodes ageospatial location, such as a latitude and longitude or address, into aparticular hashed short string of letters and digits. In one example,the prefix-based geospatial hash value may represent a geohash or otherprefix-based geospatial hash value. In one example, the geocoding systemapplied by geospatial hash calculator 520 may apply a hierarchicalspatial data structure that subdivides space into buckets of gridshapes, as applied by a space-filling curve, such as a Z-order curve. Inone example, each bit of the hash prefix of the geospatial hash reflectsa degree of precision or granularity of proximity. The proximity oflocations to one another is generally reflected by the number of prefixdigits shared by the geospatial hashes, where the more shared digitsbetween two prefixes starting from most significant digit, the closerthe two locations are that identified by the prefixes.

By calculating a geospatial hash value for encoding with an entitymention, the geospatial data encoded with the entity mention in aknowledge graph has all points for a given rectangular area incontiguous slices, in a single value for minimizing data storage, andthe prefix can be quickly compared to other geospatial hash values inother entity mentions to determine proximity. For example, a geospatialhash prefix length match of 1 may reflect a proximity of within 2500kilometers (km), a geospatial hash prefix length match of 2 may reflecta proximity of within 630 km, a geospatial hash prefix length match of 3may reflect a proximity of within 78 km, a geospatial hash prefix lengthmatch of 4 may reflect a proximity of within 20 km, a geospatial hashprefix length match of 5 may reflect a proximity of within 2.4 km, ageospatial hash prefix length match of 6 may reflect a proximity ofwithin 0.61 km, a geospatial hash prefix length match of 7 may reflect aproximity of within 0.076 km, and a geospatial hash prefix length matchof 8 may reflect a proximity of within 0.019 km. In additional oralternate embodiments, each geospatial hash prefix length match mayreflect proximity of alternate distances or other geospatial proximitymeasurements.

In addition, in the example, encoding controller 312 includes ageospatial offset hash calculator 524 for calculating a prefix-basedgeospatial offset hash value from the geospatial hash value by applyinga rotation value 522. In the example, while geospatial hashes mayreflect points in proximity to each other based on common prefixes, edgecase locations close to each other but on opposite sides of the180-degree meridian will have different longitudes for physicallocations that are proximate, but have different prefixes. To identifypoints in proximity to each other on edge case locations, geospatialoffset hash calculator 524 rotates the latitudinal and longitudinalcoordinates by rotation value 522, such as 90 degrees, and calculates aprefix-based geospatial offset hash value based on the rotatedcoordinates. In the example, the prefix-based geospatial hash value mayrepresent one corner of a bounding box around a location and theprefix-based geospatial offset hash value may represent another cornerof the bounding box.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of one example of the geotemporaldata extracted in associated with a location relationship to entitymention and encoded in a knowledge graph.

In one example, knowledge graph search controller 110 evaluates documentA (DOC A) 600 for location relationship mentions of a particular entity,including geotemporal location relationship mentions. In the example,knowledge graph search controller 110 identifies an entity mention 602for a particular entity identifier.

In the example, temporal searcher 402 of geotemporal tag extractor 310extracts an extracted temporal tag 610 from DOC A 600. Temporalconverter 404 of geotemporal tag extractor 310 formats extractedtemporal tag 610 to output formatted temporal tag 612. Temporal hashcalculator 510 of encoding controller 312 calculates a temporal hashvalue 614 based on formatted temporal tag 612. Temporal offset hashcalculator 514 applies mask value 512 to temporal hash value 614 tocreate a temporal offset hash value 616. In addition, geospatialsearcher 422 of geotemporal tag extractor 310 extracts an extractedgeospatial tag 620 from DOC A 600. Geospatial converter 424 ofgeotemporal tag extractor 310 formats extracted temporal tag 610 tooutput formatted geospatial tag 622. Geospatial hash calculator 520 ofencoding controller 312 calculates a geospatial hash value 624 based onformatted geospatial tag 622. Geospatial offset hash calculator 524applies rotation value 522 to geospatial hash value 624 to create ageospatial offset hash value 626.

In the example, knowledge graph search controller 110 adds a knowledgegraph entry 630 with an entity identified in entity mention 602 in an“entity identifier”, the pointer to DOC A 600 in entity mention 602 inan “entity mention doc A”, and a relationship indicator of “located at”as “relationship”. In addition, geotemporal controller 112 encodesknowledge graph entry 630 with temporal hash value 614, temporal offsethash value 616, geospatial hash value 624, and geospatial offset hashvalue 626 as respectively illustrated by “temporal hash value, temporaloffset hash value, geospatial hash value, and geospatial offset hashvalue.”

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of one example of parameters receivedby and results produced by a geotemporal controller for supportinggeotemporal proximity-based entity searches in a knowledge graph.

In one example, find proximate entities controller 316 supports a queryof geotemporal query parameters 710 including one or more entities 712and a threshold proximity 714 to define a search for records inknowledge graph 114 including the one or more entities 712 overlappingin location and time as bound by threshold proximity 714. In oneexample, threshold proximity 714 includes one or more of a geospatialgranularity, a temporal granularity, a specific geospatial value, and aspecific temporal value.

In one example, in response to a query with geotemporal query parameters710, find proximate entities controller 316 produces geotemporal results720 that specify one or more geotemporal proximate entities 724identified in entity mentions in knowledge graph 114 as overlapping inproximity with the entities specified in one or more entities 712, asbound by threshold proximity 714. In addition, geotemporal results 720may identify one or more geospatial and temporal identifiers 726identifying the particular locations and times identified as overlappingin proximity for the queried entities.

In one example, find proximity controller 318 supports a query ofgeotemporal query parameters 730 including two or more entities 732 todefine a search for records in knowledge graph 114 including themultiple entities identified in two or more entities 732 overlapping inlocation and time.

In one example, in response to a query with geotemporal query parameters730, find proximity controller 318 produces geotemporal results 740 ofgeospatial and temporal proximity 742 indicating a time granularity andlocation granularity identified for the multiple queried entities tooverlap in proximity based on entity mentions within knowledge graph114. In addition, geotemporal results 740 may identify one or moregeospatial and temporal identifiers 744 identifying the particularlocations and times identified as overlapping in proximity in theidentified entity mentions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example of entries collectedfrom a knowledge graph with geotemporal encoding for a find proximityquery.

In one example, a table 800 includes entries 820, 822, 824, and 826,each representing a tuple or other data record in a knowledge graph. Inthe example, entries 820 and 822 represent knowledge graph entries for“entity A” and entries 824 and 826 represent knowledge graph entries for“entity B”.

In particular, in the example, each entry in table 800 identifies anentity 802, a mention identifier 804 of a document and geotemporalencoding elements of a geospatial hash 806, a geospatial offset geohash808, a temporal hash 810, and a temporal offset hash 812. For example,entry 820 identifies an “entity A”, a mention in document “A1”, ageospatial hash of “A35”, a geospatial offset hash of “M12”, a temporalhash of “3146”, and a temporal offset hash of “8701”. Entry 822 alsoidentifies an entry for “entity A”, with a mention in document “A2”, ageospatial hash of “V46”, a geospatial offset hash of “G72”, a temporalhash of “2995”, and a temporal offset hash of “8550”. In addition, inthe example, entry 824 identifies an entry for a different entity of“entity B”, with a mention in document “B1”, a geospatial hash of “Z76”,a geospatial offset hash of “G58”, a temporal hash of “3024”, and atemporal offset hash of “8579”. Entry 826 also identifies an entry for“entity B”, with a mention in document “B2”, a geospatial hash of “A33”,a geospatial offset hash of “N47”, a temporal hash of “3543”, and atemporal offset hash of “9098”.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of one example of components of afind proximate entity controller identifying entity mentions in aknowledge graph within a threshold proximity to one or more queriedentities in a find proximate entity query.

In one example, find proximate entities controller 316 receives a findproximate entities query, such as find proximate entities query 900 thatspecifies a search for entities proximate to “entity [A]” and within athreshold proximity specified by a geospatial and temporal granularityor a geospatial and temporal value. Find proximate entities controller316 identifies a selection of one or more entries from knowledge graph114 for one or more queried entities and one or more non-queriedentities, such as the entries in table 800.

To evaluate which entity mentions are proximate to “entity[A]” with thethreshold proximity based on the entity mentions retrieved fromknowledge graph 114 in table 800, find proximate entities controller 316applies a proximity mapper 904 that maps the threshold proximitydepending on the type of threshold proximity. For example, if thethreshold proximity in a search query specifies a geospatial andtemporal granularity, then proximity mapper 904 maps the geospatial andtemporal granularity to a respective geospatial hash prefix length, suchas “1”, and a respective temporal hash prefix length, such as “1”, asillustrated at reference numeral 906. In another example, if thethreshold proximity in a search query specifies a geospatial andtemporal value, then proximity mapper 904 maps the geospatial andtemporal value to a respective geospatial hash prefix, such as “G”, anda respective temporal hash prefix, such as “8”, as illustrated atreference numeral 908.

In the example, find proximate entities controller 316 applies atemporal radix sort 910, which sorts the temporal hashes of the mentionsreturned for queried and non-queried entities in table 800 into binsuntil the queried entities do not share a bin, or, in another example,until all the bins reach the same length as the threshold prefix length.In the example, temporal radix sort 910 performs a first level ofsorting illustrated at reference numeral 912 based on the mostsignificant digit of each temporal hash illustrated by a first bin with“2-995” for mention “A2” and a second bin with “3-146” for mention “A1”,3-024 for mention “B1”, and “3-543” for mention “B2”. In the example,the “|” divider in the illustration identifies a division between bins.In the example, since multiple entities share the second bin atreference numeral 912, temporal radix sort 910 performs a second levelof sorting of the second bin based on the first two most significantdigits of each temporal hash as illustrated at reference numeral 914 bya first bin of “30-24” for mention “B1”, a second bin of “31-46” formention “A1”, and a third bin of “35-43” for mention “B2”.

In the example, temporal radix sort 910 also sorts the temporal offsethashes of the mentions returned for queried and non-queried entities intable 800 into bins until the queried entities do not share a bin, or inanother example, until all the bins reach the same length as thethreshold prefix length. In the example, temporal radix sort 910performs a first level of sorting illustrated at reference numeral 916based on the most significant digit of each temporal offset hashillustrated by a first bin with “8-701” for mention “A1”, “8-550” formention “A2”, and “8-579” for mention “B1” and a second bin with “9-098”for mention “B2”. In the example, since multiple entities share thefirst bin at reference numeral 916, temporal radix sort 910 performs asecond level of sorting of the first bin based on the first two mostsignificant digits of each temporal offset hash as illustrated atreference numeral 918 by a first bin with “87-01” for mention “A1” and asecond bin with “85-50” for mention “A2” and “85-79” for mention “B1”.In the example, since multiple entities share the first bin at referencenumeral 918, temporal radix sort 910 performs a third level of sortingof the second bin based on the first three most significant digits ofeach temporal offset hash as illustrated at reference numeral 920 by afirst bin with “855-0” for mention “A2” and a second bin with “857-9”for mention “B1”.

In the example, find proximate entities controller 316 includes atemporal mention selector 922, which identifies one or more select binsincluding the queried elements that each share a temporal hash prefixthe same length as the threshold mapping prefix length and identifiesall entity mentions that are different from the one or more queryentities, as selected entity mentions. For example, temporal mentionselector 922 identifies the mentions with a granularity matching thethreshold prefix length of “1” of “3-146 (A1)”, “3-024(B1)”,“3-543(B2)”, “8-701(A1)”, “8-550(A2)”, and 8-579(B1)”, as illustrated atreference numeral 924, and from among the entity mentions, identifiesentity mentions “B1” and “B2” as selected mentions that do not includethe queried entity, as illustrated at reference numeral 926.

In addition, in the example, temporal mention selector 922 identifiesone or more select bins including the queried elements that each share atemporal hash value matching the threshold mapping prefix and identifiesall entity mentions that are different from the one or more queryentities, as selected entity mentions. For example, temporal mentionselector 922 identifies the mentions with a value matching the thresholdprefix of “8” of “8-701(A1)”, “8-550(A2)”, and 8-579(B1)”, asillustrated at reference numeral 928, and from among the entitymentions, identifies entity mention “B1” as a selected mention that doesnot include the queried entity, as illustrated at reference numeral 930.

Next, find proximate entities controller 316 includes a geospatial radixsort 932, which sorts the geospatial hash values of the mentionsreturned for each queried entity and the selected temporal mentions fromtable 800 into bins until the queried entities do not share a bin. Inthe example, geospatial radix sort 932 performs a first level of sortingillustrated at reference numeral 934 based on the most significant digitof each geospatial hash illustrated by a first bin with “Z76” formention “B1”, a second bin with “A-35” for mention “A1” and “A-33” formention “B2” and a third bin with “V46” for mention “A2”. Next,geospatial radix sort 932 performs a second level of sorting of thesecond bin as illustrated at reference numeral 935 based on the two mostsignificant digit of each geospatial hash illustrated by a first binwith “A-35” for mention “A1” and a second bin with “A-33” for mention“B2”. As illustrated at reference numeral 935, no entities share a binafter the second level of sorting.

In the example, geospatial radix sort 932 also sorts the geospatialoffset hash values of the mentions returned for each queried entity andthe selected temporal mentions from table 800 into bins until thequeried entities do not share a bin. In the example, geospatial radixsort 932 performs a first level of sorting illustrated at referencenumeral 936 based on the most significant digit of each geospatial hashof the temporal closest mentions, by a first bin with an geospatialoffset hash of “M-12” for mention “A1”, a second bin with “G-72” formention “A2” and “G-58” for mention “B1”. In the example, since multipleentities share the second bin at reference numeral 936, geospatial radixsort 932 performs a second level of sorting of the bin based on thefirst two most significant digits of each geospatial offset hash values,as illustrated at reference numeral 937 by a first bin of “G7-2” formention “A2” and a second bin of “G5-8” for mention “B1”. As illustratedat reference numeral 937, no entities share a bin after the second levelof sorting.

In the example, find proximate entities controller 316 includes ageospatial mention selector 940, which identifies a second selection ofone or more select bins including the queried elements that each share ageospatial hash prefix the same length as the threshold mapping prefixlength and identifies all entity mentions that are different from theone or more query entities, as selected entity mentions. For example,geospatial mention selector 940 identifies the mentions with agranularity matching the threshold prefix length of “1” of “A-35(A1)”and “A-33(B2)”, as illustrated at reference numeral 942, and from amongthe entity mentions, identifies entity mentions “B2” as a selectedmention that does not include the queried entity, as illustrated atreference numeral 944.

In addition, in the example, geospatial mention selector 922 identifiesa second selection of one or more select bins including the queriedelements that each share a geospatial hash value matching the thresholdmapping prefix and identifies all entity mentions that are differentfrom the one or more query entities, as selected entity mentions. Forexample, geospatial mention selector 940 identifies the mentions with avalue matching the threshold prefix of “G” of “G-72(A1)” and “G-58(B1)”as illustrated at reference numeral 946, and from among the entitymentions, identifies entity mention “B1” as a selected mention that doesnot include the queried entity, as illustrated at reference numeral 948.

In the example, find proximate entities controller 316 providesgeotemporal results 950 based on the geospatial selected mentionsselected by geospatial mention selector 940, depending on the type ofthreshold proximity provided in the search query. For example, if thetype of threshold proximity is a granularity threshold, geotemporalresults 950 include the granularity matching entity mention of “B2”, asillustrated at reference numeral 952. In another example, if the type ofthreshold proximity is a value threshold, geotemporal results 950include the value matching entity mention of “B1”, as illustrated atreference numeral 954.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of one example of components of afind proximity controller identifying the granularity of geospatial andtemporal proximity identified in entity mentions for multiple entitiesidentified in a find proximity query.

In one example, find proximity controller 318 receives a find proximityquery, such as find proximity query 1000 and identifies a selection ofone or more entries from knowledge graph 114 for each of the entities,such as the entries in table 800. To evaluate the granular proximity of“entity[A]” and “entity[B]” based on the entity mentions retrieved fromknowledge graph 114 in table 800, find proximity controller 318 appliesa temporal radix sort 1002, which sorts the temporal hash values of thementions returned for each entity in table 800 into bins until thequeried entities do not share a bin. In the example, temporal radix sort1002 performs a first level of sorting illustrated at reference numeral1004 based on the most significant digit of each temporal hashillustrated by a first bin with “2-995” for mention “A2” and a secondbin with “3-146” for mention “A1”, “3-024” for mention “B1”, and “3-543”for mention “B2”. In the example, the “1” divider in the illustrationidentifies a division between bins. In the example, since multipleentities share the second bin at reference numeral 1004, temporal radixsort 1002 performs a second level of sorting of the second bin based onthe first two most significant digits of each temporal hash value asillustrated at reference numeral 1006 by a first bin with “30-24” formention “B1”, a second bin with “31-46” for mention “A1”, and a thirdbin with “35-43” for mention “B2”.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a temporal findbin 1018, which identifies the bin that contains a mention for each ofthe queried entities for the temporal hash value with the longest prefixand then assigns the longest prefix for each of the mentions as thetemporal prefix. In the example, for the temporal hash sorting, thesecond bin illustrated at reference numeral 1004 is the bin with thelongest prefix that contains a mention for each of the queried entities,illustrated by mention “A1”, mention “B1”, and mention “B2”. Asillustrated at reference numeral 1020, for the temporal hash sorting,temporal find bin 1018 returns the longest prefix of the bin thatcontains a mention for each of the queried entities identified with alongest prefix value “3”, of a length of 1 digit.

In addition, in one example, temporal radix sort 1002 sorts the temporaloffset hashes of the mentions returned for each entity in table 800 intobins until the entities do not share a bin. In the example, temporalradix sort 1002 performs a first level of sorting illustrated atreference numeral 1012 based on the most significant digit of eachtemporal offset hash illustrated by a first bin with “8-701” for mention“A1”, “8-550” for mention “A2”, and “8-579” for mention “B1” and asecond bin with “9-098” for mention “B2”. In the example, since multipleentities share the first bin at reference numeral 1012, temporal radixsort 1002 performs a second level of sorting of the first bin based onthe first two most significant digits of each temporal offset hash, asillustrated at reference numeral 1014, by a first bin with “87-01” formention “A1” and a second bin with “85-50” for mention “A2” and “85-79”for mention “B1”. In the example, since multiple entities share thesecond bin at reference numeral 1014, temporal radix sort 1002 performsa third level of sorting of the second bin based on the first three mostsignificant bits of each temporal offset hash illustrated at referencenumeral 1016 by a first bin with “855-0” for mention “A2” and a secondbin with “857-9” for mention “B1”.

In the example, temporal find bin 1018 identifies the bin that containsa mention for each of the queried entities for the temporal offset hashwith the longest prefix and then assigns the longest prefix for each ofthe mentions as the temporal offset prefix. In the example, for thetemporal offset hash sorting, the second bin illustrated at referencenumeral 1014 is the bin with a longest prefix that contains a mentionfor each of the queried entities, illustrated by mention “A2” andmention “B1”. As illustrated at reference numeral 1022, for the temporaloffset hash sorting, temporal find bin 1018 returns the longest prefixof the bin that contains a mention for each of the queried entitiesidentified with a longest prefix value “85”, of a length of 2 digits.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a temporalclosest selector 1024. Temporal closest selector 1024 evaluates whetherthe temporal hash or the temporal offset hash has the longest prefixlength. In the example, the temporal offset hash longest prefix of “85”illustrated at reference numeral 1022 is longer than the temporal hashlongest prefix of “3” illustrated at reference numeral 1020. Temporalclosest selector 1024 identifies the closest entity mentions in the binsfor the selected longest prefix of “85”, which are identified asillustrated at reference numeral 1026 as mentions “A2” and “B1” from thesecond bin illustrated at reference numeral 1014.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a temporalgranularity calculator 1028. Temporal granularity calculator 1028evaluates the temporal proximity indicated for the closest mentionsbased on the prefix length. In the example, as illustrated at referencenumeral 1030, temporal granularity calculator determines that the2-digit prefix of “85” reflects a temporal proximity of two levels ofgranularity, which, for example, may reflect a temporal proximity within100 hours.

Next, find proximity controller 318 includes a geospatial radix sort1032, which sorts the geospatial hashes of the mentions returned foreach entity in table 800 into bins until the queried entities do notshare a bin. In the example, geospatial radix sort 1032 performs a firstlevel of sorting illustrated at reference numeral 1034 based on the mostsignificant digit of each geospatial hash illustrated by a first binwith “V46” for mention “A2” and a second bin with “Z76” for mention“B1”. As illustrated at reference numeral 1034, no entities share a binafter the first level of sorting.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a geospatial findbin 1042, which identifies the bin that contains a mention for each ofthe queried entities for the geospatial hash with the longest prefix andthen assigns the longest prefix for each of the mentions as thegeospatial offset prefix. In the example, for the geospatial hashsorting, no bin contains a mention for each of the queried entities,therefore geospatial find bin 1042 returns a null prefix for the longestprefix, as illustrated at reference numeral 1044.

In the example, geospatial radix sort 1032 also sorts the geospatialoffset hashes of the mentions returned for each entity in table 800 intobins until the queried entities do not share a bin. In the example,geospatial radix sort 1032 performs a first level of sorting illustratedat reference numeral 1038 based on the most significant digit of eachgeospatial hash of the temporal closest mentions, illustrated atreference numeral 1038 by a single bin with “G-72” for mention “A2” anda second bin with “G-58” for mention “B1”. In the example, sincemultiple entities share the first bin at reference numeral 1038,geospatial radix sort 1032 performs a second level of sorting of the binbased on the first two most significant digits of each geospatial offsethash, as illustrated at reference numeral 1040 by a first bin of “G7-2”for mention “A2” and a second bin of “G5-8” for mention “B1”. Asillustrated at reference numeral 1040, no entities share a bin after thesecond level of sorting.

In the example, geospatial find bin 1042 also identifies the bin thatcontains a mention for each of the queried entities for the geospatialoffset hash with the longest prefix and then assigns the longest prefixfor each of the mentions as the geospatial offset prefix. In theexample, for the geospatial offset hash sorting, the first binillustrated at reference numeral 1038 is the bin with a longest prefixthat contains a mention for each of the queried entities, illustrated bymention “A2” and mention “B1”. As illustrated at reference numeral 642,for the geospatial offset hash sorting, geospatial find bin 1042 returnsthe longest prefix of the bin that contains a mention for each of thequeried entities identified with a longest prefix of “G”.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a geospatialclosest selector 1048. Geospatial closest selector 1048 evaluateswhether the geospatial hash or the geospatial offset hash has thelongest prefix length. In the example, the length of the geospatialoffset hash longest prefix of “G” illustrated at reference numeral 1046is longer than the length of the geospatial hash longest prefix of“null” illustrated at reference numeral 1044. Geospatial closestselector 1048 identifies the entity mentions in the bins for theselected longest prefix length of “G”, which are identified asillustrated at reference numeral 1050 as mentions “A2” and “B1” from thefirst bin illustrated at reference numeral 1038.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 includes a geospatialgranularity calculator 1052. Geospatial granularity calculator 1052evaluates the geospatial proximity indicated for the closest mentionsbased on the prefix length. In the example, as illustrated at referencenumeral 1054, geospatial granularity calculator 1052 determines that the1-digit prefix of “G” reflects a geospatial proximity of one level ofgranularity, which for example, may reflect a temporal proximity within630 km.

In the example, find proximity controller 318 provides geotemporalresults 1060 based on the temporal proximity illustrated at referencenumeral 1030 and from the geospatial proximity illustrated at referencenumeral 1054. In one example, geotemporal results 1060 may be reportedas the prefix lengths, as indications of proximity, as illustrated atreference numeral 1062. In another example, find proximity controller318 may first convert each prefix length into a measurement, such asconverting a temporal prefix length to an amount of time and ageospatial prefix length to a distance, and report the measurement ingeotemporal results 1060.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of one example of a computer systemin which one embodiment of the invention may be implemented. The presentinvention may be performed in a variety of systems and combinations ofsystems, made up of functional components, such as the functionalcomponents described with reference to a computer system 1100 and may becommunicatively connected to a network, such as network 1102.

Computer system 1100 includes a bus 1122 or other communication devicefor communicating information within computer system 1100, and at leastone hardware processing device, such as processor 1112, coupled to bus1122 for processing information. Bus 1122 preferably includeslow-latency and higher latency paths that are connected by bridges andadapters and controlled within computer system 1100 by multiple buscontrollers. In one embodiment, when implemented as a server or node,computer system 1100 includes multiple processors designed to improvenetwork servicing power.

In one embodiment, processor 1112 is at least one general-purposeprocessor that, during normal operation, processes data under thecontrol of software 1150, which includes at least one of applicationsoftware, an operating system, middleware, and other code and computerexecutable programs accessible from a dynamic storage device such asrandom access memory (RAM) 1114, a static storage device such as ReadOnly Memory (ROM) 1116, a data storage device, such as mass storagedevice 1118, or other data storage medium. In one embodiment, software1150 includes, but is not limited to, code, applications, protocols,interfaces, and processes for controlling one or more systems within anetwork including, but not limited to, an adapter, a switch, a server, acluster system, and a grid environment.

In one embodiment, computer system 1100 communicates with a remotecomputer, such as server 1140, or a remote client. In one example,server 1140 is connected to computer system 1100 through any type ofnetwork, such as network 1102, through a communication interface, suchas network interface 1132, or over a network link connected, forexample, to network 1102.

In one embodiment, multiple systems within a network environment arecommunicatively connected via network 1102, which is the medium used toprovide communications links between various devices and computersystems communicatively connected. Network 1102 includes permanentconnections such as wire or fiber optics cables and temporaryconnections made through telephone connections and wireless transmissionconnections, for example, and may include routers, switches, gatewaysand other hardware to enable a communication channel between the systemsconnected via network 1102. Network 1102 represents one or more ofpacket-switching based networks, telephony-based networks, broadcasttelevision networks, local area and wire area networks, public networks,and restricted networks.

Network 1102 and the systems communicatively connected to computer 1100via network 1102 implement one or more layers of one or more types ofnetwork protocol stacks which may include one or more of a physicallayer, a link layer, a network layer, a transport layer, a presentationlayer, and an application layer. For example, network 1102 implementsone or more of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) protocol stack or an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)protocol stack. In addition, for example, network 1102 represents theworldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suiteof protocols to communicate with one another. Network 1102 implements asecure HTTP protocol layer or other security protocol for securingcommunications between systems.

In the example, network interface 1132 includes an adapter 1134 forconnecting computer system 1100 to network 1102 through a link and forcommunicatively connecting computer system 1100 to server 1140 or othercomputing systems via network 1102. Although not depicted, networkinterface 1132 may include additional software, such as device drivers,additional hardware and other controllers that enable communication.When implemented as a server, computer system 1100 may include multiplecommunication interfaces accessible via multiple peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI) bus bridges connected to an input/output controller,for example. In this manner, computer system 1100 allows connections tomultiple clients via multiple separate ports and each port may alsosupport multiple connections to multiple clients.

In one embodiment, the operations performed by processor 1112 controlthe operations of flowchart of FIGS. 12-16 and other operationsdescribed herein. In one embodiment, operations performed by processor1112 are requested by software 1150 or other code or the steps of oneembodiment of the invention might be performed by specific hardwarecomponents that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or byany combination of programmed computer components and custom hardwarecomponents. In one embodiment, one or more components of computer system1100, or other components, which may be integrated into one or morecomponents of computer system 1100, contain hardwired logic forperforming the operations of flowcharts in FIGS. 12-16.

In one embodiment, computer system 1100 includes multiple peripheralcomponents that facilitate input and output. These peripheral componentsare connected to multiple controllers, adapters, and expansion slots,such as input/output (I/O) interface 1126, coupled to one of themultiple levels of bus 1122. For example, input device 1124 includes,for example, a microphone, a video capture device, an image scanningsystem, a keyboard, a mouse, or other input peripheral device,communicatively enabled on bus 1122 via I/O interface 1126 controllinginputs. In addition, for example, output device 1120 communicativelyenabled on bus 1122 via I/O interface 1126 for controlling outputsinclude, for example, one or more graphical display devices, audiospeakers, and tactile detectable output interfaces, but in anotherexample also includes other output interfaces. In alternate embodimentsof the present invention, additional or alternate input and outputperipheral components may be added.

With respect to FIG. 11, the one or more embodiments present inventionincluding, but are not limited to, a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. In one embodiment, the computer program productincludes a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computerreadable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carryout aspects of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the computer readable storage medium is a tangibledevice that can retain and store instructions for use by an instructionexecution device. The computer readable storage medium includes, forexample, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magneticstorage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storagedevice, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (MID),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. In one embodiment, thenetwork comprises copper transmission cables, optical transmissionfibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gatewaycomputers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or networkinterface in each computing/processing device receives computer readableprogram instructions from the network and forwards the computer readableprogram instructions for storage in a computer readable storage mediumwithin the respective computing/processing device.

In one embodiment, computer readable program instructions for carryingout operations of the present invention include one or more of assemblerinstructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machineinstructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmwareinstructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object codewritten in any combination of one or more programming languages,including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such asthe “C” programming language or similar programming languages. In oneembodiment, the computer readable program instructions execute entirelyon the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, in one example, the remote computer is connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) execute the computerreadable program instructions by utilizing state information of thecomputer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in additional oralternate embodiments, the hardware depicted in FIG. 11 may vary.Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thedepicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations withrespect to the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for encoding entity mentions in a knowledge graph withgeotemporal information in the mentions in a format for supportingtransitive proximity-based entity searching through the knowledge graph.

In the example, the process and computer program start at block 1200 andthereafter proceeds to block 1202. Block 1202 illustrates adetermination whether geotemporal control is triggered for an entity. Atblock 1202, if geotemporal control is triggered for an entity, then theprocess passes to block 1204. Block 1204 illustrates searching forentity mentions within each document of a document corpus. Next, block1206 illustrates a determination whether an entity mention is identifiedin a document.

At block 1206, if an entity mention is not identified in a document,then the process passes to block 1218. Block 1218 illustrates adetermination whether all documents are searched. At block 1218, if alldocuments are searched, then the process ends. Otherwise, at block 1218,if all documents have not been searched, then the process returns toblock 1204.

Returning to block 1206, at block 1206, if an entity mention isidentified in a document, then the process passes to block 1208. Block1208 illustrates searching for geotemporal information associated withthe entity mention with in the document. Next, block 1210 illustrates adetermination whether one or more types of associated geospatial ortemporal information is identified. At block 1210, if no geospatial ortemporal information is identified, then the process passes to block1218. At block 1210, if one or more types of geospatial or temporalinformation is identified, then the process passes to block 1212. Block1212 illustrates converting the geotemporal information into one or moregeospatial and temporal formats by type of information. Next, block 1214illustrates computing one or more prefix-based geotemporal values forthe converted geotemporal information, such as one or more prefix-basedhash and offset hash values for the converted geotemporal information.Thereafter, block 1216 illustrates encoding an entry for a knowledgegraph for the entity mention and entity mention identifier with alocated relationship and the one or more computed prefix-basedgeotemporal values, and the process ends.

FIG. 13 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for identifying and encoding geotemporal dataassociated with entity mentions as prefix-based geotemporal values in aknowledge graph for supporting proximity-based entity searching throughthe knowledge graph.

In one example, the process and computer program start at block 1300 andthereafter proceeds to block 1302. Block 1302 illustrates adetermination whether a search for geotemporal data associated with anentity mention is triggered. At block 1302, if a search for geotemporaldata associated with an entity mention is triggered, then the processpasses concurrently to block 1304 and to block 1316.

Block 1304 illustrates searching a document for one or more types oftemporal references. Next, block 1306 illustrates a determinationwhether a temporal reference type is identified. At block 1306, if notemporal reference type is identified, then the process ends. At block1306, if a temporal reference type is identified, then the processpasses to block 1308. Block 1308 illustrates converting the temporalinformation of the temporal reference type to a standard temporal formatdefinition, such as a coordinated universal time (UTC), by applying oneor more conversion values. Next, block 1310 illustrates calculating aprefix-based temporal hash value from the converted temporalinformation. Thereafter, block 1312 illustrates calculating aprefix-based temporal offset hash value by applying an offset mask tothe temporal hash value. Next, block 1314 illustrates setting thetemporal hash value and the temporal offset hash value as theprefix-based temporal values for encoding the record of the entitymention, and the process ends.

Block 1316 illustrates searching for one or more types of geospatialreferences. Next, block 1318 illustrates a determination whether ageospatial reference type is identified. At block 1318, if no geospatialreference type is identified, then the process ends. At block 1318, if ageospatial reference type is identified, then the process passes toblock 1320. Block 1320 illustrates converting the geospatial informationof the geospatial reference type to a standard geospatial formatdefinition, such as a latitude and longitude, by applying one or moreconversion values. Next, block 1322 illustrates calculating aprefix-based geospatial hash value from the converted geospatialinformation. Thereafter, block 1324 illustrates calculating aprefix-based geospatial offset hash value by rotating the latitudinaland longitudinal coordinates of the geospatial hash value by 90 degrees.Next, block 1326 illustrates setting the geospatial hash value and theoffset geospatial hash value as the geotemporal tag values for thegeospatial information for the entity mention, and the process ends.

FIG. 14 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for performing transitive proximity-based entitysearching to find mentions of other entities within a thresholdproximity of the search entity through the knowledge graph.

In one example, the process and computer program start at block 1400 andthereafter proceeds to block 1402. Block 1402 illustrates adetermination whether a find proximity search is received identifyingone or more entities and one or more thresholds. At block 1402, if afind proximity search is received identifying one or more entities andone or more thresholds, then the process passes to block 1404.

Block 1404 illustrates a determination of what type of threshold isspecified. At block 1404, if the threshold is granularity-based, thenthe process passes to block 1406. Block 1406 illustrates mapping thegeospatial and temporal granularities to a geospatial hash prefix lengthand a temporal hash prefix length, and the process passes to block 1410.Returning to block 1404, if the threshold is value-based, then theprocess passes to block 1408. Block 1408 illustrates mapping thegeospatial and temporal locations to a geospatial hash prefix and atemporal hash prefix, and the process passes to block 1410.

Block 1410 illustrates radix sorting all mentions of queried entitiesand all mentions of non-queried entities on each of the temporal hashvalues into bins starting from the most significant digit. Next, block1412 illustrates identifying one or more select bins with a queriedentity that each share a temporal hash prefix the same as or hash prefixof a same length as the threshold mapping. Thereafter, block 1414illustrates identifying all entity mentions in the one or more selectbins that are different from the one or more query entities, as selectedentity mentions. Next, block 1416 illustrates radix sorting all mentionsof the queried entities and the selected entity mentions on geospatialhash values into bins starting from the most significant digit.Thereafter, block 1418 illustrates identifying one or more geospatialselect bins with a queried entity that each share a geospatial hashprefix the same as or hash prefix of a same length as the thresholdmapping. Next, block 1420 illustrates identifying all entity mentions inthe one or more geospatial select bins that are different from the oneor more query entities, as result entity mentions. Thereafter, block1422 illustrates returning the result entity mentions as geotemporalresults to the search query, and the process ends.

FIG. 15 illustrates a high level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for performing transitive proximity-based entitysearching to find mentions of two or more searched entities to identifya degree of granularity of closest geotemporal proximity of the searchedentities through the knowledge graph.

In one example, the process and computer program start at block 1500,and thereafter proceeds to block 1502. Block 1502 illustrates adetermination whether a find proximity search identifying multipleentities is received. Next, block 1504 illustrates radix sorting allmentions of queried entities on each of the temporal hash values intobins starting from the most significant digit until the mentions of thequeried entities do not share a bin. Thereafter, block 1506 illustratesidentifying a first select temporal bin with a longest prefix thatcontains mentions for each of the queried entities. Next, block 1508illustrates radix sorting all mentions of queried entities on each ofthe temporal offset hash values into bins starting from the mostsignificant digit until the mentions of the queried entities do notshare a bin. Thereafter, block 1510 illustrates identifying a secondselect temporal bin with a longest offset prefix that contains mentionsfor each of the queried entities. Next, block 1512 illustrates selectingthe temporal prefix from the longer of the longest prefix and thelongest offset prefix. Thereafter, block 1514 illustrates identifyingthe entities in the first or second temporal bin associated with thetemporal prefix, as the closest temporal mentions. Next, block 1516illustrates radix sorting the closest temporal mentions of each entityon each of the geospatial hash values into bins starting from the mostsignificant digit until the closest temporal mentions do not share abin. Thereafter, block 1518 illustrates identifying a first selectgeospatial bin with a longest prefix that contains mentions for each ofthe queried entities. Next, block 1520 illustrates radix sorting theclosest temporal mentions of each entity on each of the geospatialoffset hash values into bins starting from the most significant digituntil the closest temporal mentions do not share a bin. Thereafter,block 1522 illustrates identifying a second select geospatial bin with alongest offset prefix that contains mentions for each of the queriedentities. Next, block 1524 illustrates selecting the geospatial prefixfrom the longer of the longest prefix in the longest offset prefix.Thereafter, block 1526 illustrates mapping the temporal prefix to atemporal measure. Next, block 1528 illustrates mapping the geospatialprefix to a geospatial measure. Thereafter, block 1530 illustratesreturning the temporal measure and geospatial measure as geotemporalresults to the search query, and the process ends.

FIG. 16 illustrates a high-level logic flowchart of a process andcomputer program for generating a map projection for the results of afind proximity search for illustrating the closest geotemporal proximityof the searched entities.

In one example, the process and computer program start at block 1600 andthereafter proceed to block 1602. Block 1602 illustrates a determinationwhether a find proximity search query includes a request for a mapprojection. At block 1602, if a find proximity search query includes arequest for a map projection, then the process passes to block 1604.Block 1604 illustrates determining the bounding box of the area for thecoordinates of the selected geospatial prefix. Next, block 1606illustrates a determination whether the selected geospatial prefix isset to a geospatial offset hash value. At block 1606, if the selectedgeospatial prefix is set to a geospatial offset hash value, then theprocess passes to block 1610. Block 1610 illustrates reversing thelatitudinal and longitudinal rotations of the coordinates of thegeospatial offset value identified for the bounding box. Returning toblock 1606, if the selected geospatial prefix is not set to a geospatialoffset hash value, then the process passes to block 1608. Block 1608illustrates determining the coordinates mapped to in the bounding boxfor the selected geospatial prefix, and the process passes to block1612.

Block 1612 illustrates specifying a map projection for the areaspecified by the determined coordinates with a timeline specified by theselected temporal prefix. Next, block 1614 illustrates returning the mapprojection with timeline in the geotemporal results to the search query,and the process ends.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, occur substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes occur in the reverse order,depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted thateach block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the one or more embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, but is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described to bestexplain the principles of the invention and the practical application,and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

The foregoing description is just an example of embodiments of theinvention, and variations and substitutions. While the invention hasbeen particularly shown and described with reference to one or moreembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and detail may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: responsive to detectinggeospatial information and temporal information associated with amention of an entity in a document, converting, by a computer system,the geospatial information into a specified geospatial format and thetemporal information into a specified temporal format; computing, by thecomputer system, one or more prefix-based geospatial values for theconverted geospatial information and one or more prefix-based temporalvalues for the converted temporal information; and encoding, by thecomputer system, an entry in a knowledge graph for the mention of theentity from the document with the one or more prefix-based geospatialvalues and the one or more prefix-based temporal values, wherein eachdigit of the one or more prefix-based geospatial values and the one ormore prefix-based temporal values in the knowledge graph that matchesanother one or more prefix-based geospatial values and another one ormore prefix-based temporal values in another entry for another entitymention in the knowledge graph reflects a degree of granularity ofgeotemporal proximity of the entity and the another entity.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein computing, by the computer system,one or more prefix-based geospatial values for the converted geospatialinformation and one or more prefix-based temporal values for theconverted temporal information further comprises: computing, by thecomputer system, a prefix-based geospatial hash value by applying a hashfunction to the converted geospatial information; and computing, by thecomputer system, a prefix-based geospatial offset hash value by rotatinga latitude and longitude of the prefix-based geospatial hash value by arotation value, wherein each digit of the prefix-based geospatial hashvalue and prefix-based geospatial offset hash value that matches anotherprefix-based geospatial hash value and another prefix-based geospatialoffset hash value in the another entry for the another entity mention inthe knowledge graph reflects the degree of granularity of geospatialproximity of the entity and the another entity.
 3. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein computing, by the computer system, one or moreprefix-based geospatial values for the converted geospatial informationand one or more prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporalinformation further comprises: computing, by the computer system, aprefix-based temporal hash value by applying a hash function to theconverted temporal information; and computing, by the computer system, aprefix-based temporal offset hash value by applying an offset mask tothe prefix-based temporal hash value to increase each digit of theprefix-based temporal hash value by half a potential value, wherein eachdigit of the prefix-based temporal hash value and prefix-based temporaloffset hash value that matches another prefix-based temporal hash valueand another prefix-based temporal offset hash value in the another entryfor the another entity mention in the knowledge graph reflects thedegree of granularity of temporal proximity of the entity and theanother entity.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein encoding, bythe computer system, an entry in the knowledge graph for the mention ofthe entity from the document with the one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporal valuesfurther comprises: encoding, by the computer system, the entry in theknowledge graph for the mention of the entity from the document with anidentifier of a location relationship to the one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporal values. 5.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: storing, by thecomputer system, the entry in the knowledge graph for the mention of theentity from the document with an identifier of a location relationship,the geospatial information, and the temporal information.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: searching, by the computersystem, a corpus of documents for one or more mentions of the entity;and responsive to identifying the document of the corpus of documentswith the mention of the entity, searching, by the computer system, theparticular document for the geospatial information and the temporalinformation associated with the mention.
 7. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising: searching, by the computer system, thedocument for the geospatial information by applying one or moregeospatial classifiers each trained to detect one or more geospatialreference types from among a plurality of geospatial reference types; inresponse to the one or more geospatial classifiers returning aclassification of a first selection of text in the document as thegeospatial information, converting, by the computer system, thegeospatial information into the specified geospatial format; searching,by the computer system, the document for the temporal information byapplying one or more temporal classifiers each trained to detect one ormore temporal reference types from among a plurality of temporalreference types; and in response to the one or more temporal classifiersreturning a classification of a second selection of text in the documentas the temporal information, converting, by the computer system, thetemporal information into the specified temporal format.
 8. A computersystem comprising one or more processors, one or more computer-readablememories, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and programinstructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devicesfor execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at leastone of the one or more memories, the stored program instructionscomprising: program instructions, responsive to detecting geospatialinformation and temporal information associated with a mention of anentity in a document, to convert the geospatial information into aspecified geospatial format and the temporal information into aspecified temporal format; program instructions to compute one or moreprefix-based geospatial values for the converted geospatial informationand one or more prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporalinformation; and program instructions encode an entry in a knowledgegraph for the mention of the entity from the document with the one ormore prefix-based geospatial values and the one or more prefix-basedtemporal values, wherein each digit of the one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporal values inthe knowledge graph that matches another one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values and another one or more prefix-based temporal valuesin another entry for another entity mention in the knowledge graphreflects a degree of granularity of geotemporal proximity of the entityand the another entity.
 9. The computer system according to claim 8, theprogram instructions to compute one or more prefix-based geospatialvalues for the converted geospatial information and one or moreprefix-based temporal values for the converted temporal informationfurther comprising: program instructions to compute a prefix-basedgeospatial hash value by applying a hash function to the convertedgeospatial information; and program instructions to compute aprefix-based geospatial offset hash value by rotating a latitude andlongitude of the prefix-based geospatial hash value by a rotation value,wherein each digit of the prefix-based geospatial hash value andprefix-based geospatial offset hash value that matches anotherprefix-based geospatial hash value and another prefix-based geospatialoffset hash value in the another entry for the another entity mention inthe knowledge graph reflects the degree of granularity of geospatialproximity of the entity and the another entity.
 10. The computer systemaccording to claim 8, the program instructions to compute one or moreprefix-based geospatial values for the converted geospatial informationand one or more prefix-based temporal values for the converted temporalinformation further comprising: program instructions to compute aprefix-based temporal hash value by applying a hash function to theconverted temporal information; and program instructions to compute aprefix-based temporal offset hash value by applying an offset mask tothe prefix-based temporal hash value to increase each digit of theprefix-based temporal hash value by half a potential value, wherein eachdigit of the prefix-based temporal hash value and prefix-based temporaloffset hash value that matches another prefix-based temporal hash valueand another prefix-based temporal offset hash value in the another entryfor the another entity mention in the knowledge graph reflects thedegree of granularity of temporal proximity of the entity and theanother entity.
 11. The computer system according to claim 8, theprogram instructions to encode an entry in the knowledge graph for themention of the entity from the document with the one or moreprefix-based geospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporalvalues further comprising: program instructions to encode the entry inthe knowledge graph for the mention of the entity from the document withan identifier of a location relationship to the one or more prefix-basedgeospatial values and the one or more prefix-based temporal values. 12.The computer system according to claim 8, further comprising: programinstructions to store the entry in the knowledge graph for the mentionof the entity from the document with an identifier of a locationrelationship, the geospatial information, and the temporal information.13. The computer system according to claim 8, further comprising:program instructions to search a corpus of documents for one or morementions of the entity; and program instructions to, responsive toidentifying the document of the corpus of documents with the mention ofthe entity, search the particular document for the geospatialinformation and the temporal information associated with the mention.14. The computer system according to claim 8, further comprising:program instructions to search the document for the geospatialinformation by applying one or more geospatial classifiers each trainedto detect one or more geospatial reference types from among a pluralityof geospatial reference types; program instructions to, in response tothe one or more geospatial classifiers returning a classification of afirst selection of text in the document as the geospatial information,convert the geospatial information into the specified geospatial format;program instructions to search the document for the temporal informationby applying one or more temporal classifiers each trained to detect oneor more temporal reference types from among a plurality of temporalreference types; and program instructions to, in response to the one ormore temporal classifiers returning a classification of a secondselection of text in the document as the temporal information, convertthe temporal information into the specified temporal format.
 15. Acomputer program product comprises a computer readable storage mediumhaving program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computerreadable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the programinstructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to:responsive to detecting geospatial information and temporal informationassociated with a mention of an entity in a document, convert, by acomputer, the geospatial information into a specified geospatial formatand the temporal information into a specified temporal format; compute,by the computer, one or more prefix-based geospatial values for theconverted geospatial information and one or more prefix-based temporalvalues for the converted temporal information; and encode, by thecomputer, an entry in a knowledge graph for the mention of the entityfrom the document with the one or more prefix-based geospatial valuesand the one or more prefix-based temporal values, wherein each digit ofthe one or more prefix-based geospatial values and the one or moreprefix-based temporal values in the knowledge graph that matches anotherone or more prefix-based geospatial values and another one or moreprefix-based temporal values in another entry for another entity mentionin the knowledge graph reflects a degree of granularity of geotemporalproximity of the entity and the another entity.
 16. The computer programproduct according to claim 15, further comprising the programinstructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: compute,by the computer, a prefix-based geospatial hash value by applying a hashfunction to the converted geospatial information; and compute, by thecomputer, a prefix-based geospatial offset hash value by rotating alatitude and longitude of the prefix-based geospatial hash value by arotation value, wherein each digit of the prefix-based geospatial hashvalue and prefix-based geospatial offset hash value that matches anotherprefix-based geospatial hash value and another prefix-based geospatialoffset hash value in the another entry for the another entity mention inthe knowledge graph reflects the degree of granularity of geospatialproximity of the entity and the another entity.
 17. The computer programproduct according to claim 15, further comprising the programinstructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: compute,by the computer, a prefix-based temporal hash value by applying a hashfunction to the converted temporal information; and compute, by thecomputer, a prefix-based temporal offset hash value by applying anoffset mask to the prefix-based temporal hash value to increase eachdigit of the prefix-based temporal hash value by half a potential value,wherein each digit of the prefix-based temporal hash value andprefix-based temporal offset hash value that matches anotherprefix-based temporal hash value and another prefix-based temporaloffset hash value in the another entry for the another entity mention inthe knowledge graph reflects the degree of granularity of temporalproximity of the entity and the another entity.
 18. The computer programproduct according to claim 15, further comprising the programinstructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: encode,by the computer, the entry in the knowledge graph for the mention of theentity from the document with an identifier of a location relationshipto the one or more prefix-based geospatial values and the one or moreprefix-based temporal values.
 19. The computer program product accordingto claim 15, further comprising the program instructions executable by acomputer to cause the computer to: store, by the computer, the entry inthe knowledge graph for the mention of the entity from the document withan identifier of a location relationship, the geospatial information,and the temporal information.
 20. The computer program product accordingto claim 15, further comprising the program instructions executable by acomputer to cause the computer to: search, by the computer, a corpus ofdocuments for one or more mentions of the entity; and responsive toidentifying the document of the corpus of documents with the mention ofthe entity, search, by the computer, the particular document for thegeospatial information and the temporal information associated with themention.